A magistrate or judge, especially in Switzerland; a chief officer or administrator in certain jurisdictions.
From French avoyer (from Old French avoué, advocate or judge), derived from Latin advocatus. The word entered English through French administrative terminology and refers to high judicial officers in Swiss cantons.
Advoyer shows how Latin advocatus evolved differently in different languages—in France and Switzerland it became a title for judges, while in England it became the general term advocate for any supporter of a cause.
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